Arrest in midday, Venice bank robbery

A 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a brazen, midday robbery of a Bank of America branch on Venice island.

The Venice Police Department said Michael Lynn Baird may have threatened a teller at the Bank of America on West Venice Avenue when he allegedly committed the robbery.

Manatee County court records show Baird has an arrest record of at least 45 charges dating to 1991. He is being held without bail in the Sarasota County jail, facing first degree felony charges.

About 1 p.m. June 26, Baird allegedly walked into the Bank of America at 304 W. Venice Ave. He handed the teller a note saying that he had a weapon, according to police.

Security footage showed a man with multiple bandages on his face wearing long work-style coveralls and white socks as sleeves on his arms. He also had a ball cap with draped neck protection.

After the robbery, detectives found two adhesive bandages in a planter at the corner of Nassau Street and West Venice Avenue. About 100 yards to the east, detectives found coveralls, socks and a fishing hat matching those worn by the robber.

But they could not find anyone matching the suspect. To generate leads, police released pictures from the robbery to the media.

Soon after, a tipster called the Police Department and said the man in the images looked like his acquaintance “Mike.”

The tipster's information led detectives to a storage lot on South Seaboard Avenue, where a homeless Michael Baird spent his nights, according to a police affidavit.

The owner of the property told authorities that Baird came to him about three months ago looking for a place to stay. The storage lot owner let Baird use a mobile home on his property.

Shortly after the robbery, the storage lot owner said he saw Baird carry duffel bags and leave with his girlfriend. He had not seen the two since.

But on July 3, the owner of the lot called police to tell them that Baird's girlfriend was collecting some of Baird's belongings.

When confronted, Baird's girlfriend admitted to taking him out of town. Then, according to a police affidavit, she produced a “large roll of U.S. currency” for the officers.

Police would not disclose how much was taken from the bank.

Baird was arrested by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and the Venice Police Department Detective Division at the Siesta Inn and Suites in Bradenton.

His girlfriend has not been charged with a crime and has been cooperating with police.

Baird was charged with robbery and wearing a hood, mask or other device to conceal his identity during the robbery, which elevates the charge to a first-degree felony.

EARLIER: A 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a brazen, mid-day robbery of a Bank of America branch on Venice island.

The Venice Police Department said Michael Lynn Baird may have threatened a teller at the Bank of America on West Venice Avenue when he allegedly committed the robbery on June 26.

Manatee County court records show Baird has an arrest record of at least 30 charges dating to 1991.

Baird was arrested by the Venice Police Department Detective Division with assistance by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.